The ability to understand science as a totality - matter, space, energy, life, weather, information and the future - will enhance your understanding of all the challenges facing humanity, as well as allow you to go deeper into specific technologies. This book, complete with worked examples and key facts, forms a course which will take you from novice level to a competent understanding of the hottest topics in science. It includes step-by-step explanations of subjects as complex as the birth of life and plate tectonics, with suggestions for further reading and summaries to help you understand the key points. Chapters cover: the Big Bang, the solar system, the birth of life, evolution, DNA, the genome, genetics and cloning, the structure of Earth, earthquakes and volcanoes, weather, energy, the microprocessor, artificial intelligence, space exploration, scientific fraud, scientific controversies, climate change, and the future of science. The Complete Introduction series from Teach Yourself is the ultimate one-stop guide for anyone wanting a comprehensive and accessible entry point into subjects as diverse as philosophy, mathematics, psychology, Shakespeare and economics. Loved by students and perfect for general readers who simply want to learn more about the world around them, these books are your first choice for discovering something new.